The history of Afrikaner cattle in South Africa is an
interesting one and is closely associated with the history
of the country’s people. These
typical
Bos Indicus animals, the most important of our
indigenous breeds, were the first cattle encountered by Jan
van Riebeeck shortly after he had arrived at the Cape.
Little is known about the origins of the breed. The most
likely theory is that, in its most primitive state, it
originated on the steppes of Asia from the wild cattle of
that time. Since then, it had descended from the
lateral-horned Zebu without any infusion of foreign blood.
This hardy, no-nonsense breed has a number of outstanding
traits, its value in cross-breeding programmes being
particularly appreciated.